Former UMD student indicted for hate crime in killing of Bowie State Univ. student

UPPER MARLBORO, Md.—Tuesday, Maryland State’s Attorney, Angela Alsobrooks announced that former University of Maryland student, Sean Urbanski, has been officially indicted for a hate crime in the May 20th stabbing death of Bowie State University Student, Lieutenant Richard Collins III as he waited for an Uber outside the UMD campus.

SA Alsobrooks pointed to a mountain of evidence against Urbanski that prosecutors had to comb through which may have held up the charge.

During a news conference she said, “The evidence in this case again was of a digital nature. There was lots and lots of digital evidence in this case including a phone in this case and other evidence. And after analyzing all of that evidence, we are comfortable now that we have enough evidence to file a hate crime charge, which is what the grand jury handed down.”

Prior to the killing, prosecutors said Urbanski reportedly told Collins, who is Black, to move to the left if he knew what was good for him. When he refused, Collins was stabbed to death.

Students at Bowie State who remember Lieutenant Collins as “a good guy” think the charge is justified.

“I think it’s important that he understands that gravity of what he did and how that is completely taboo for humanity and racism is completely wrong.”, said BSU Senior, Jummy Owookade, who had known Collins in passing.

Freshman Rolf Fanord said, “I feel like it’s appropriate that he gets both charges so people know like,what he did, because if it’s just a murder charge and people think it was just a senseless murder, but when you add the hate crime to it, it shows people that it was an ulterior motive, that it was a reason why he did it. And, I think that’s an important thing for people to know.”

Lt. Collin’s family declined to comment, But Bowie State University released a statement saying “The Bowie State University community continues to mourn the loss of 2nd Lieutenant Richard Collins III whose life was taken in a senseless act of violence. While it is encouraging to see progress made in the criminal case, we continue to reflect on the precious life lost.”

If convicted, Urbanski could be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, plus 20 years.